My Omega Nato Strap Experience

duc · Jan 20, 2017

trackpad
@b-16707 @Traveler

Guys, these are both nice suggestions. I am thinking, probably better than the one I just received – or more interesting due to their seatbelt-like tight weave.

http://phenomenato.com/product/admiralty-grey-brushed-hw

https://www.blusharkstraps.com/coll...phashark-admiralty-grey-1?variant=29520721091

I'll have to try both!

I bought 3 each (20mm & 22mm) Phenomenatos after watching with excitement the evolution of wizard's business. At one point he had a long thread that covered every step of his research (of materials) and all the efforts he went through to find suitable craft workers to make his straps. It took the better part of a year for him to pull everything together. The product is almost as good as OEM Omega. The hardware Omega uses is higher quality, but in a side by side comparison, it is hardly noticeable. For $40 you simply can't go wrong.

The thread was taken down by the WUS mods because it apparently violated some aspect of the advertising rules (although those of us who watched it evolve would disagree that it was a sales thread). Since it was not up for a vote, our opinions didn't matter or count.

trama · Jan 20, 2017

I am a Maratac guy, but I really like the Omega strap on my SM300. It seems silly expensive for what it is...but it is really nice!
I can see contact with the metal bits, but never noticed:

trackpad · Jan 21, 2017

trama
I am a Maratac guy, but I really like the Omega strap on my SM300. It seems silly expensive for what it is...but it is really nice!
I can see contact with the metal bits, but never noticed

@trama ...so I am really not trying to stir the pot, but damn if I can't actually see the metal of the retainer denting your skin in that first photo. 😉

In any case, it's the right strap you chose...and the one I picked out but ultimately had to leave at the counter.👎

mikesspeedy · Apr 29, 2017

I love the Omega NATOs. I`m not wealthy by any means and always look to save cash but, I own a Speedy and a Seamaster both came on an a stainless bracelet. I have the Black on polished stainless Nato that came in the Omega box with the Speedy. I have ordered the RIO blue white stripes Nato for my Seamaster. I just think each watch retails at about 3-4k why put it on anything other than an Omega strap? To be honest I think its the cheapest qen Omega strap on the market. Nato nylon £110.00 try to buy a Gen stainless for less then £700 and a gen leather with clasp £500+. If I had a timex then yes aftermarket Nato for £30 fine. But not my lovely Omegas.

mikesspeedy · Apr 29, 2017

Another thought...I could be wrong. IF the Gen Omega Natos break and the watch gets damaged I feel I would have a case to go back to Omega for a free repair to the watch and replacement Nato. I could be wrong but I know if the watch were on an aftermarket there would be no chance. Just a thought.

lillatroll · Apr 29, 2017

mikesspeedy
I love the Omega NATOs. I`m not wealthy by any means and always look to save cash but, I own a Speedy and a Seamaster both came on an a stainless bracelet. I have the Black on polished stainless Nato that came in the Omega box with the Speedy. I have ordered the RIO blue white stripes Nato for my Seamaster. I just think each watch retails at about 3-4k why put it on anything other than an Omega strap? To be honest I think its the cheapest qen Omega strap on the market. Nato nylon £110.00 try to buy a Gen stainless for less then £700 and a gen leather with clasp £500+. If I had a timex then yes aftermarket Nato for £30 fine. But not my lovely Omegas.

I bought a genuine omega leather strap and deployment clasp for my sm300 co axial and the total was 269 pounds. 500 pounds would be a bit steep.

mikesspeedy · Apr 29, 2017

lillatroll
I bought a genuine omega leather strap and deployment clasp for my sm300 co axial and the total was 269 pounds. 500 pounds would be a bit steep.

Cool that's my bad, well done. Still makes my point though the NATO is still less than half that price for a gen Omega strap. If you ask me the NATO is a real bargain also allows you to take the buckle off, and use it on a leather strap (gen one of course).

lillatroll · Apr 29, 2017

My understanding is that those who have a NATO strap say they are of excellent quality, far better than cheaper NATOS, so probably worth the money. I would imagine that many people weigh up the cost of an omega strap vs a generic strap and decided the difference is too big rather than consider the difference in quality.

mikesspeedy · Apr 29, 2017

lillatroll
My understanding is that those who have a NATO strap say they are of excellent quality, far better than cheaper NATOS, so probably worth the money. I would imagine that many people weigh up the cost of an omega strap vs a generic strap and decided the difference is too big rather than consider the difference in quality.

I recon your right there. I just don't understand it. IF one can afford to have a nice omega ( NEW from an official supplier, Im sure there is only some de ville modals under £2500 most Omegas start at about £3K and go on to 10K plus) then the official Nato at an extra £85 over the best after markets, is just a drop in the (Planet) Ocean. Why risk your Grail watch/s on aftermarket NATOs?. I get the cheep price thing but why not just go get a timex then and can save a bigger bundle?

BlackTalon · Apr 29, 2017

I hear what you are saying, but why is aftermarket 'cheap' though? How much strength does a fabric strap need to do the job? The one on my wife's $15 Timex has stood up to 2 years of abuse. The cost really comes down to comfort and possibly looks more so then anything resembling structural performance.

mikesspeedy · Apr 29, 2017

BlackTalon
I hear what you are saying, but why is aftermarket 'cheap' though? How much strength does a fabric strap need to do the job? The one on my wife's $15 Timex has stood up to 2 years of abuse. The cost really comes down to comfort and possibly looks more so then anything resembling structural performance.

Yea your right and I am fully with you on a Timex put whatever Nato you like as I said in my post that you have commented on. Its just on a relatively expensive watch such as Omega who do their own NATOs which do cost a lot more than any other NATO, The Omega strap is extra nice and to be fair its in a league of its own in terms of Price, quality and strength. On an Omega that probably cost between 3 and 10k put gen Omega NATO on it. I'm not decrying the Timex Pulsar kind of watch I have a Pulsar that I wear and I have a £15 quid Nato that I switch onto it sometimes but NEVER my Omegas. FOR ME Its horses for courses.

BlackTalon · Apr 29, 2017

Some OF members change NATO straps daily (or even more often then that). Having a couple/ few dozen Omega NATOs does get pretty expensive, not to mention the the limitations in available colors/ strips compared to some of the aftermarket makers.

I personally only have 2 NATOs, and both a Omega. One came with a watch, and the other I bought at an OB. But I get why others are perfectly happy with aftermarket, even if a $12 strap seems too cheap for a $4k watch. I actually have yet to wear either of the NATOs, as my preference if a leather strap with deployant.

nixf6 · Apr 29, 2017

Always liked the look of the NATO strap and went through about 5 cheapie straps which never felt comfy enough, before coughing up the money on an Omega item.Over priced YES.Comfortable VERY.Wear it all the time on my 145.012 now but will try the Phenomenato site.They seem to be of similar quality to the Omega Nato for a 3rd of the price.

trackpad · Apr 29, 2017

To my mind, the OMEGA NATO has a fundamental and disqualifying design flaw – and one I have never seen repeated on even the cheapest 12 dollar NATO strap. And that is the hardware in direct contact with the skin, with the strap retainers not being isolated or cushioned by the strap fabric in any way. This was I guess the crux of my original post, so go to the beginning and read if anything I just said sounds confusing. But having tried them again I feel even more strongly about it now.

Still... to everyone who has an OMEGA NATO and loves it, I'm very glad. It's a lot to pay for something you don't like. And it could totally just be my wrists that don't have enough meat on them.

But there might also be a reason I've never seen this design in a NATO strap before. And it's irritating precisely because the quality of the design and materials is otherwise so high!

I've purchased 6 straps (of various quality levels) from Joe at Blueshark since starting this thread a few months ago. I had them delivered to family in the U.S. so I won't see them for a few more days still, but I'll try and remember to report back then.

As for anyone worried about the strength of these straps, that is really not the issue. The quality of the material will determine both comfort and how well it withstands wear (how long can it go before it looks like an old sock or bathrobe?)

Foo2rama · Apr 29, 2017

@trackpad

The reason the 2nd layer keeper on the Omega has the bit that "gasp!" touches your skin is that it has a center bar to attach to the strap. While others use a rectangle, the three "rung" design makes it so the keeper is aligned correctly to the strap. Other wise on thinner NATO straps that have supple nylon that keeper tends to fall away at an angle and look sloppy. Basically it assures the keeper stays at a 90 degree angle to the strap and not 45 like my custom leather ones

trackpad · Apr 29, 2017

@Foo2rama Good analysis ...and while I wouldn't personally consider it a problem worth the annoyance of a thin metal keeper pressed into my skin all day, it's nice to have this insight as to what they were aiming to achieve.

I think the relative bulkyness and rigidity of the OMEGA NATO is compounding the problem for my wrist. Because where I normally wear straps loose and with a lot of room to play, this one (to my taste) felt a little unwieldy...so my reaction was I think to tighten it down in an effort to reduce the profile. Hence the immediate, yep... "gasp"! Pretty much.

I have a lot of NATOs incoming, different thicknesses and quality levels. Will be interesting to compare and to see if any of these keepers experience 45 degree rotational offset (double "gasp!") 😉 ...and if not, why not.

mikesspeedy · Apr 30, 2017

Yesterday after reading trackpad post I changes out the stainless on the speedy to the omega NATO as I genuinely had not noticed any irritation coming from the metal bar that touches the skin. Wore it all day went to the pub to watch the boxing came back slept in it and to be honest I really tried to get it to hurt my wrist but I just couldn't FOR ME it was not uncomfortable in fact I didn't even feel it until I deliberately tried to push hard on it so see if I could cause some discomfort....I could feel the bar then but to be honest It was not uncomfortable. Really happy with it and IMHO its worth every penny of the extra £85 because I would not wear a non Omega strap on an Omega watch BUT AS I KEEP SAYING THATS JUST ME! I am looking to see if I can save up for a croc leather Strap and clasp I hope I can also find a gen Omega for £269.

mikesspeedy · Apr 30, 2017

trama
I am a Maratac guy, but I really like the Omega strap on my SM300. It seems silly expensive for what it is...but it is really nice!
I can see contact with the metal bits, but never noticed:

I like very much.. I like the kind of a satin sheen the strap material gives off, I like the tight weave. I like the bling polished stainless rings , one announcing it Omega. I like the neat edges of the strap. Then looking at the package as a whole on that watch ...nice ...very nice. understated class that only Omega can do.

lillatroll · Apr 30, 2017

mikesspeedy
I am looking to see if I can save up for a croc leather Strap and clasp I hope I can also find a gen Omega for £269.

I bought mine from Parkhouse Jewelers at the same time as I bought the SM300 that came with a ss bracelet. They have shops in Cardiff, Hampshire,Edinburgh as well as on line. Don't know what a croc strap will cost but the clasp was the more expensive part.

munichblue · Apr 30, 2017

I do love the OEM NATO, especially on my Seamaster. I like the quality, the solidness and the appearance and personally don't think they are overpriced. Bought a Rio recently for my AT and blue PO.

My Omega Nato Strap Experience

duc

trama

trackpad

mikesspeedy

mikesspeedy

lillatroll

mikesspeedy

lillatroll

mikesspeedy

BlackTalon

mikesspeedy

BlackTalon

nixf6

trackpad

Foo2rama

trackpad

mikesspeedy

mikesspeedy

lillatroll

munichblue

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